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PP HONG KONG
GRS 338
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FM FCO 051050Z DEC 83
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1298 OF 6 DECEMBER,
200
TOP COF
5275 1
HKK040/18
HAD NO IN MEISTE
81983
!
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
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YOUR TELNO 1861 AND PEKING TELNO 1296:
WORKING PAPER ON TREATIES
4
CM9/12
FUTURE OF HONG KONG :
1. WE NATURALLY AGREE THAT IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO DO THE
RESEARCH WHICH YOU DESCRIBE BEFORE THERE CAN BE MUCH DISCUSSION
WITH THE CHINESE ON THE PARTICULAR TREATIES WHICH APPLY TO HONG
KONG.
BUT WE SERIOUSLY DOUBT WHETHER IT IS PRACTICABLE TO UNDERTAKE AND COMPLETE THIS BEFORE WE MAKE A PROCEDURAL
SUGGESTION ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A JOINT COMMISSION. WE CANNOT
ENVISAGE ANY ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURE WHICH WOULD MEET OUR OBJECTIVE
OF FACILITATING THE CONTINUED APPLICATION OF THESE TREATIES IN
SUITABLE CASES TO A HONG KONG SAR. NOR WOULD WE BE PREJUDICING
IN ANY WAY THE EVENTUAL POSITION WHICH WE WOULD TAKE UP WITHIN
THE JOINT COMMISSION.
2. IT SEEMS TO US THAT THERE ARE TWO CONSIDERATIONS OF TIMING
INVOLVED. THE RESEARCH WHICH YOU DESCRIBE WILL BE TIME CONSUMING
AND WILL REQUIRE CONSIDERABLE CONSULTATION WITH YOURSELVES. THIS WOULD INEVITABLY DELAY SUBMISSION OF A WORKING PAPER ON TREATIES WELL BEYOND THE POINT WHERE THIS WOULD FIT IN WITH OUR STRATEGY TOWARDS THE NEGOTIATIONS.
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3. MOREOVER IT IS BY NO MEANS SELF-EVIDENT THAT THE JOINT COMMISSION SHOULD START WORK IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THE IMMEDIATE
AIM IS TO SECURE AGREEMENT ON THE PRINCIPLE OF ITS ESTABLISH- MENT. DETAILED WORK DONE TOO EARLY WHETHER ON OUR SIDE OR IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CHINESE SIDE, MIGHT RISK BEING INVALIDATED AS TREATIES EXPIRE AND NEW TREATIES COME INTO FORCE.
4. FOR THESE REASONS WE AGREE WITH PEKING PUR AND HOPE THAT YOU
CAN AGREE TO A PHASED APPROACH. A WORKING PAPER WOULD BE SUBMITTED PO THE CHINESE AT AN EARLY SESSION OF NEGOTIATIONS, MAKING THE PROČEDUREAL PROPOSAL SET OUT IN OUR DRAFT. WE WOULD AIM TO MAKE
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See (213)
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